In my experience simplicity is a relative term in this hobby. It depends on one’s budget and the size of their listening room. There’s no question that today’s digital streaming of audio is extremely convenient and can be accomplished cost effectively. However, there will always be those who want better quality audio play back systems.
For instance, the use of turntables in audio systems remains one of the most subjective topics in this hobby. I remember in the 1980’s when the compact disc debuted. Digital playback quickly surpassed the turntable for the general listening public.
However, Hi-End audio manufacturers refused to jump on the bandwagon, staying with analogue playback. Yet, by the early 1990s it became clear that CD was not just a fad and that these boutique audio companies were missing out on revenue from this new playback technology.
Suddenly, Hi-End audio companies such as Krell, Mark Levinson, Naim and Linn began to manufacture their own CD players. Interestingly enough, during this time the Hi-End audio user was not ready to let go of their turntable.
In fact sales of mid to expensively priced turntables began to increase, and continue to do so more than three decades later. In this same vein, the death of the compact disc in recent years has also turned out to be greatly exaggerated.
And a number of companies continue to manufacture both mid and expensively priced CD players, catering to those who have maintained large CD collections.
The same can be said for those with large vinyl collections.
I remember back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when solid state audio became the newest technology of choice. Many audio enthusiasts were quick to get rid of their tube based electronics in favor of this newer technology. The Japanese saw this as an opportunity to buy up much of the excellent American made tube electronics which were then shipped overseas.
Of course, like the turntable and CD player, tube electronics have again become quite popular in the modern day.
If I have learned anything in this hobby over the past 50 years is that it is cyclical and the hype train used to drive audio sales will always exist. Sometimes it ushers in important new developments in this great hobby, while at others it’s just the latest flavor of the month.
If you’ve put together an audio system that you are satisfied with enjoy it.
As for my analogue system, I settled on an old Systemdek IIX with a period correct NOS Jelco 370 tonearm. It serves as the foundation for the remaining albums that I have and IMHO easily sets a benchmark in regard to the law of diminishing returns.
